Swords into Plowshares

Prayer for peace - Sunday 22 May 2011

 The World Sunday for Peace is part of the WCC's International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) which will take place 17 -25 May in Kingston, Jamaica and marks the culmination of the “Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace”. Here is a prayer that congregations, communities and individuals are encouraged to use:

Prayer for peace - Sunday 22 May 2011

God of peace and possibility, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier:
We approach you to ask once again for your mercy, forgiveness and a fresh start.
We ask you to help us give peace a chance, in this world.
We want to give peace a chance, yet we have already missed so many opportunities.
We have sabotaged so many initiatives; instead of overcoming evil with good,
we have stood by while good was overpowered.
Forgive us, Lord.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

Just as we claim your forgiveness, we also claim this moment in the name of peace.
We accept anew our responsibility as peacemakers and creators of justice.
We give thanks for the Decade to Overcome Violence, for its work in raising our awareness and our yearning for peace. And yet, we admit that there is much more required if we are truly to give peace a chance.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

By the moving of your Spirit, commit our hearts and minds to peace, and help us dedicate our lives to becoming the starting-points of peace. “Let this be the moment, now.”
Help us cooperate with you, giving peace a chance, creating a world where peace may be our ethos and our essence.
Give us peace, we pray. Grant us wisdom and courage to seize the initiative: wisdom to discern the things that make for peace, and courage to be faithful and obedient to you.

Dona nobis pacem: Give us peace, we pray.

God of peace and possibility, make us instruments of your peace
at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation and in all places
so that we may fulfill your will, and so that we may give peace a chance.
In the name of the Prince of  Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
 
Prayer from the Caribbean

Download the prayer in other languages:

Arabic: صلاة من أجل السلام

Armenian: Աղոթք խաղաղության

Aymara (Bolivia): Diosar mayiña sumañkañataki

Chinese: 世界和平祷文

Danish: Bøn for fred

English: Prayer for peace

Finnish: Rauhanrukous

French: Prière pour la Paix

German: Gebet für den Frieden

Greek: Προσευχή για την ειρήνη

Italian: Preghiera per la pace

Kiswahili: Maombi ya Amani

Korean: 평화를 위한 기도

Maohi: Pure no te Hau

Norwegian: Bønn om fred

Oshiwambo (Angola/Namibia): Eindilo omolwombili

Portuguese: Oração pela paz

Romanian: Rugăciune pentru pace

Samoan: O le tatalo mo le filemu

Spanish: Oración por la paz

Swedish: Bön för freden

World Malaria Day

As a student, I travelled to Tanga, Tanzania to do community development work and research for 3 months.  Before I left for Tanzania, I received every vaccination that was required, received the most expensive and top-of-the-line antimalarial pills and bought a treated mosquito net. 

I lived in a house with indoor plumbing with a group of British expatriates and worked in a rural village.  I bought bottled water from the market everyday, I used this bottled water to brush my teeth, clean my fruit and for hydration.   I wore long pants and long sleeve shirts, even though some days the temperature reached well over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  I wore insect repellent. I did everything “right.”  

Then it happened.  My house flooded one morning and I broke out in a rash.  I went to the local hospital where I volunteered teaching English and received tests.  About a half hour later, I found out that I had Malaria.  I was confused, I had done everything right…now…I had Malaria.

For me, malaria was a sickness, treatable and curable.  For so many others, malaria takes their life.  Today is important because it is World Malaria Day.  World Malaria Day works to bring attention to this treatable, yet deadly disease.  

World Malaria Day 2011 is:

…a time for examining the progress we have made towards malaria control and elimination and to renew efforts towards achieving the target of zero malaria deaths by 2015. 

We have come a long way towards realising this goal since the first World Malaria Day four years ago, when it was estimated that a child died every 30 seconds of malaria. The huge increase in support for malaria control interventions in recent years means we can now acknowledge a reduction in the death rate; where once over a million people died of the disease annually, the figure is now closer to 790,000. This is progress and it shows that what we are doing is working. However we can’t afford to ease back until this number is zero, and this year everyone in the malaria community is discussing the remaining obstacles we face in the fight against malaria. (http://www.worldmalariaday.org/home_en.cfm)

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations recognizes the importance of international work to reduce deaths due to malaria and works with International Health and Development, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and ecumenical and UN partners on working to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of eradicating deaths to malaria worldwide by 2015. 

Like so many other issues that challenge our world, we pray for the future.  We pray that malaria deaths will be eliminated and the other Millennium Development Goals will be achieved by 2015.  Let’s work together so that others may survive as I have.

 

Northminster Presbyterian Church puts mission into practice

The Northminster Presbyterian Church visited the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations on Saturday, April 16.

The group had the opportunity to tie mission into advocacy practice.  The group from Northminster had spent days doing mission work close to New York City, including some hands on work like painting.

The use of paint took another form of mission when the group completed participated in making Red Hands for the Red Hand’s Campaign to end the use of child soldiers.

The group also had the opportunity to learn about Presbyterian Mission partners in different countries and educate each other about the work of Presbyterians around the world and far off places.

Later in the day, the group visited the United Nations headquarters and spent some time in the United Nations meditation room. 

Contact the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations to schedule a seminar.

Your gifts make possible the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.

 

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Issues Statement

Today, Reliefweb shared the statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Speaking on Palestinian Prisoners day, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Maxwell Gaylard called for protection of rights of Palestinians in Israeli detention, particularly women and children.

Gaylord referenced the approximately 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.    Gaylord called for the treatement of the prisoners to confom to international human rights and humanitarian law.

Please join us in prayers for peace for all parties involved.

 

Zonta Club New York Talks about Human Trafficking

April is the National Sexual Assault Awareness month.  As part of this year's celebration, I had the opportunity to speak with the New York Chapter of Zonta International.  The goal of Zonta is to improve the lives of women by the following objectives:

• To improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local level through service and advocacy.
• To work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of executives in business and the professions.
• To promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• To be united internationally to foster high ethical standards, to implement service programs, and to provide mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations, and the world.

The Zonta Chapter of New York invited me to speak to the issue of human trafficking and how the local Zonta Club could become active on the topic.  The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been involved with campaigns to stop the spread of human trafficking for many years. 

In my presentation, we spoke about the different types of human trafficking, including:

• Forced labor
• Sex trafficking
• Bonded labor
• Debt bondage among migrant laborers
• Involuntary domestic servitude
• Forced child labor
• Child soldiers
• Child sex trafficking

There are many ways that groups and individuals can get involved to stop human trafficking.  You can:

• Support federal legislation like S. 596, the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2011 and ask your Senators to co-sponsor the legislation.
• Ask businesses to sign onto “the Code,” an agreement by businesses to increase the protection of children from sex tourism. 
• Individuals can also ask their local grocers to take action to ensure the produce sold in their store is from a just work environment. 
• Support the Red Hands Campaign, a campaign with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, the Child Advocacy Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program to eliminate the use of child soldiers around the world. 

If you are interested in finding out how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is involved in human trafficking, please visit our webpage.

 

Global Day of Action Against Military Spending

Today, we celebrate the Global Day of Action Against Military Spending.  The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations has joined with ecumenical partners to begin a conversation on the topic of global military spending.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), military expenditures are estimated to have reached $1.6 trillion in 2010.  The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations will work with ecumenical partners to discuss this trend and look for next actions at a luncheon today.

Hiro Sakuri (invited, Soka Gakkai Intl), Dennis Frado(accepted, Lutheran Office for World Community) and Alison Pytlak (accepted, Religions for Peace) have been asked to share briefly on the following subject in order to provoke our conversation around the following: “What is civil society’s role at the U.N., in the streets, and in the pew/temple/gurdwara/mosque regarding militarism, militarization and military expenditures?”

The collected group will follow these three diverse perspectives with table conversations regarding questions raised during the presentation and, are organizations interested in taking this issue on?  Why?  Or why not?

 

Building Sustainable Communities of Peace in Colombia

For over fifty years, the people of Colombia have endured violence that has displaced more than five million Colombians and driven another 500,000 from their country. Thousands more have died.

Since 2000, the United States has provided Colombia over $7 billion dollars in assistance, three quarters of which is military assistance. Under a deal struck in 2009, the United States will make use of seven military bases in Colombia. In 2010, the Colombian Constitutional Court ruling declared the deal invalid.

The violence has particularly affected women, indigenous groups and Afro-Colombians. Those who work for peace risk their lives in the process.

Rooted in their faith in the nonviolent Christ, the members of the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia have stood with their people. They have accompanied their displaced sisters and brothers and worked to build sustainable communities of peace. Theirs has been a faithful, creative witness to peace.

Presbyterians from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have chosen to stand with our Colombian partners in the Colombia Accompaniment Program.

On April 5, the Rev. Adelaida Jiménez Cortes, the Rev. Gloria Ulloa, and the Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo provided a briefing on Colombia at the Church Center for the United Nations. Adelaida and Gloria are leaders in the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia and its ministry of accompaniment. Shannan serves as director of Colombia Programs for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.

Together they told of the militarization of Colombia, the bases used by the United States, and the violence that has killed and displaced so many. And they told of the remarkable grace, faith, courage, and hope of the people of Jesus who are the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia.

Prior to the meeting, Gloria and Adelaida met with a representative of the UN's Department of Public Affairs with responsibility for relating to Colombia.
 
This presentation and brown bag lunch was arranged by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, the Council on Witness to Society and the World of the Presbytery of New York City, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Big Tent Development

Register now for the Peacemaking Conference at the Big Tent!

Download a registration form.

Growing Christ's Peace

And a harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace

June 30- July 2, 2011- Indianapolis, Indiana

The Peacemaking Program invites participants to join in the 2011 Peacemaking Conference - Growing Christ’s Peace at the Big Tent - an opportunity to experience the exciting ministries of the PC(USA) at the same time and in the same location.

It is important to note:

The Big Tent conference is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is our hope that these plans can be maintained, due to the excellent accommodations and arrangements provided by the Convention & Visitors Association, the hospitality community and local Presbyterians. However, immigration legislation under consideration in Indiana’s state government, may cause the event to be moved. In 2010, the General Assembly instructed its agencies to “refrain from holding national meetings at hotels in those states where travel by immigrant Presbyterians or Presbyterians of color or Hispanic ancestry might subject them to harassment due to legislation similar to Arizona Law SB 1070/HB2162.” We are hopeful that Indiana legislators will reject this legislation quickly, so that our plans can continue, but this is uncertain. Big Tent meeting planners will make a final decision regarding location by May 2, 2011. Until this time, participants are encouraged to register for the conference, but to delay making travel arrangements until the meeting location has been finally determined.

By registering (but not making travel arrangements until the final location is clear), we help demonstrate the impact that  having to move the Big Tent.

Register now for the Peacemaking Conference at the Big Tent!

Download a registration form.

Special Rapporteur Reports on Visit to Paraguay

The UN Special Rapporteur on religious freedom and tolerance returned from an eight-day trip to Paraguay.  The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The Rapporteur has been invited to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles.  By mandate, the Special Rapporteur works:

• To promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief;
• To identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles;
• To continue her/his efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate;
• To continue to apply a gender perspective, inter alia, through the identification of gender-specific abuses, in the reporting process, including in information collection and in recommendations.

The current Rapporteur is Mr. Heiner Bielefeldt. 

UN News Service reported that upon his return, Mr. Bielefeldt commended Paraguay for the openness and tolerance of both the government and society, but pointed out there is “much room” for improvement in tackling the issue of inequality among varying religious groups. 

The United Nations and the Human Rights Council have been active in identifying human rights abuses, specifically that of freedom of religion.  The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations remains committed to working with our church partners in other countries to build societies where people of all faiths can faithfully together.

 

Attacks in Afghanistan kill those working “in service of humanity”

UN News Reported, “The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have strongly condemned today’s [April 1, 2011] attack in Afghanistan in which a large crowd of demonstrators angry at the burning of a copy of the Koran by a United States group stormed a United Nations compound and killed a number of people, including three UN staff members.” 

Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, “Those who lost their lives in today's attack were dedicated to the cause of peace in Afghanistan and to a better life for all Afghans. These brave men and women were working in the best tradition of the United Nations and gave their lives in the service of humanity.”

Yesterday, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations issued a letter of condolence to those affected by the violence.  We gave thanks for the faithful service of the United Nations staff members and others who were killed and injured and for individuals and groups who work for international peace and justice and who care for our sisters and brothers.  

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations asks others to join us in our prayers for peace and justice around the world.